Apparatus and method of assembly for electron discharge devices



March 19, 1963 c. F. MILLER ETAL APPARATUS A 3,081,520 N D METHOD OF ASSEMBLY FOR I ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICES Filed Jan. 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l \w Y, J I I m m mm I 6 0 O 0 mm 0 cU fi 0 mm O t 0N NNI... x 9

WITNESSES INVENTORS Carl F. Miller March 19, 1963 c. F. MILLER ETAL 3,031,520

APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICES Filed Jan. 23, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3,081,520 APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICES Carl F. Miller and Ernest F. Smart, Bath, and William H.

McCurdy, Horseheads, N.Y., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa, a

corporation of Pennsylvania Filed .Ian. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 788,606 4 Claims. (Cl. 29-2519) is unsatisfactory. There have been attempts from time to time to either partially or wholly mechanize the assembly of receiving tubes, but as a rule, they have not been successful. In one type of partially mechanized scheme, a moving belt assembly passes a number of operators, each one of whom has a particular task. -While this scheme has some advantages, it does have the disadvantage that the speed of the belt is regulated by the slowest operator, and, therefore, the faster operators are not utilized to the fullest extent.

This invention provides a flexible method for assembly 0 of electrodes for electron discharge devices by one operator which does not require any great dexterity or experience. Also, this invention, while disclosed as partially mechanized is, as will be seen, readily adaptable to completely automatic assembly techniques.

Therefore, it is an object of our invention to provide an improved method of assembly for electrodes of elec tron discharge devices.

It is another object to provide an improved partially mechanized method of assembly of electrodes for electron discharge devices.

It is a further object to provide a method suitable for completely mechanized assembly of electrodes for electron discharge devices.

It is an additional object to provide an improved method of assembly particularly suitable for use with receiving tubes.

It is a supplemental object to provide an improved method of assembly for electron discharge devices including the assembly of insulating spacers, cathodes, grids, anodes and other parts.

It is still another object to provide an improved method of assembly for electron discharge devices which eliminates any distortion in the elements of the discharge device which might occur in the assembly process, thereby producing discharge devices with superior uniformity.

It is still a further object to provide an improved method of assembly for electron discharge devices that will reduce damage to parts and losses therefrom.

It is still another object to provide an improved apparatus for the assembly of electrodes by the above methods.

These and other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in accordance with the accompanying drawing, throughout which like reference characters indicate like parts, which drawing forms a part of this application and in which:

'FIGURE 1 is a top somewhat schematic view of apparatus for use in the assembly of electrodes for electron discharge devices in accordance with one embodiment of our invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of apparatus similar to that shown in FIGURE 1 which is suitable for use in the assembly of electrodes for electron discharge devices;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the end of a jig including a cathode support member and an insulating spacer in accordance with one embodiment of our invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side View of a jig in an upright position with a cathode mounted upon the cathode support member in accordance with one embodiment of our invention;

.FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a completed electrode structure of an electron discharge device which has been assembled in accordance with one embodiment of our invention;

FIGURE 6 is a top schematic view of apparatus suitable for the assembly of electrodes for electron discharge devices in accordance with one embodiment of our invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a top schematic view of apparatus suitable for assembly of electrodes for electron discharge devices in accordance with another embodiment of our invention.

In general, our invention relates to apparatus and methods of assembly which involve the use of a jig which may be positioned as desired and upon which certain electrodes are mounted. Additional electrodes are positioned upon the jig from various electrode guiding means which may be movable or which may be fixed with the jig movable in such a manner that the electrodes are suitably aligned.

In FIGURE 1 there is shown a top view of apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of our invention including a jig 11 which is mounted upon a swivel jig mounting means 13. The swivel jig mounting means 13 includes a swivel base member 15 and a swivel bearing member 17. An elongated cathode support member 21 extends from the end of the jig 11 as will be described in more detail below. The jig 11 can be positioned in an upright or vertical position and can also be positioned in at least one horizontal position.

In FIGURE 3 there is shown a. perspective view of the end of the jig 11 which includes a jig end portion 47. An elongated cathode support member 21 extends outwardly from the jig 11 and is surrounded by a suitable spacer recess 51. The first assembly operation is to place a suitable first spacer member 53 in the spacer recess 51 so that the cathode support member 21 passes through the first spacer member central aperture 55. The first spacer member 53 also includes, in this particular embodiment, first grid apertures 57 and second grid apertures 59 which are aligned with each other and with the central aperture 55. The first spacer member 53 also includes anode tab apertures 61. Also, in this particular embodiment, a cathode tab groove 49 is formed on the cathode support member 21.

After the first spacer member 53 has been positioned on the jig 11, a cathode 69 is then positioned over the cathode support member as shown in FIGURE 4. The cathode 69 is mounted by positioning the cathode tab 75 in the cathode tab groove 4-9 and then sliding the cathode 69 over the cathode support member 21. The cathode 69 includes an emissive coating 71 and also at least one cathode positioning member 125 which prevents the cathode 69 from passing through the central aperture 55 of the first spacer member 53. Also shown are grid support stop portions 73, which, if desired, may be made as a part of an integral template insert which may include the cathode support member 21 and grid support stop portions for additional grid electrodes. Of course the grid support stop portions may have different depths and configurations as desired. In the particular embodiment shown in FIGURE 4, the jig 11 is in upright position, but, of course, in some instances, it may be desirable to load the first spacer member 53 and the cathode 69 when the jig is in a suitable horizontal position.

Next, as shown in FIGURE 1, the jig 11 may be positioned in what we may call a first horizontal position. As can be seen, the jig 11 is aligned with a suitable electrode guiding means such as a first slide member 29. This first slide member 29 includes a first slide block member 31 and a movable first guide member 33. The first guide member 33 includes first guide arms 95 which form a recess into which a first grid electrode 77 may be positioned.

As can be seen in FIGURE 1, the first grid electrode 77 includes a plurality of suitable first grid laterals 83 and suitable grid support members which, in this particular embodiment, include a first long grid support member 85 and a first short grid support member 87. When the .jig .11. is in a suitably aligned position, which may be determined by the position of an adjustable first jig stop member 23, the first grid electrode 77 may be pushed by the first guide member 33 so that the first grid electrode support member will pass through the first grid aperture 57 in the first spacer member 53 and so that the first grid electrode 77 will surround the cathode support member 21 and the cathode 69 and be accurately positioned with respect thereto. The first guide member 33 may be actuated by moving the first guide member knob 35 or by any suitable hand or mechanized arrangement.

As stated above, when the first grid electrode 77 is properly positioned around the cathode support member 21 and the cathode 69, the first long grid support member 85 and the first short grid support member 87 pass through the first grid apertures 57 in the insulating first spacer member 53 and will be firmly held by these means. The first long grid support member 35 will extend through the first spacer member 53 for a comparatively long distance so that it may be electrically connected to the proper lead wire when desired.

It may be desirable in some instances to push the cathode 69 into position at the time of inserting the first grid electrode 77 with the aid of the first guide member 33.

After the first grid electrode 77 has been positioned and the first guide member 33 has been returned to its original position by means of return spring 128, the jig 11 is then placed in a suitable horizontal position which we may call the second horizontal position in which it is aligned with a second suitable electrode guiding means such as a second slide member 39. This alignment may also be controlled by an adjustable second jig stop member 25. A gravity operated safety lever 37 is usually required at all horizontal positions other than the first horizontal position. In the view shown in FIG. 1, the safety lever 37 is actuated by the movement of the jig 11 along the guide 19 and prevents the feeding of an electrode from the second slide member 39 before the jig 11 is properly aligned at stop 25. The second slide member 39 is similar to the first slide member 29 and includes a second slide block member 4-1, a second guide member 43 and a second guide member knob 4-5. The second guide member '43 includes second guide arms 97 which form a recess into which a second grid electrode 79 may be positioned. The second grid electrode 79 is similar to the first grid electrode 77 in that it includes second grid laterals 39 and suitable grid support members. However, the second grid electrode 79 is somewhat larger in diameter than the first grid electrode 77 so that it may be slipped over the first grid electrode 77. The grid supports in this particular embodiment include a second long grid support member 91 and a second short grid support member 93. As can be seen in FIG URE 1, the second long grid support member 91 is on the opposite side of the second grid electrode 79 as compared to the position of the first long grid support member on the first grid electrode 77.

When the jig 11 is satisfactorily aligned, the second guide member knob 45 is actuated which causes the second guide member 43 to move the second grid electrode 79 toward the jig 11 so that the second grid electrode 79 encloses the first grid electrode 77 and so that the second long grid support member 91 and the second short grid support member 93 pass through suitable second apertures 59 in the first spacer member 53. Thus, the second long grid support member 91 is spaced as far as possible from the first long grid support member 85, which makes it simpler to electrically connect each long grid support member to the proper leads. Of course, if desired, in this and other embodiments of our invention more slide block members may be used if more parts, such as additional grids, etc., are to be assembled.

FIGURE 2 shows a side view and a little more detail of apparatus similar to that shown in FIGURE 1, including a jig 11 mounted on a swivel jig mounting means 13. The jig 11 in FIGURE 2 as in FIGURE 1 is in a horizontal position, but, of course, it may be placed in an upright or vertical position if desired as mentioned previously. The swivel jig mounting means 13 includes a swivel base member 15 and a swivel bearing member 17. Also shown is a first jig stop member 23 which may be used to accurately position the jig 11. A suitable electrode guiding means such as the first slide member 29 is shown and includes a first slide block member 31 and a first guide member 33 which includes a first guide member knob 35. The first slide block member 31 is attached to a base member 27 by means of slide block locking screws 63. The height of the first slide block member 31 and the first guide member 33 are adjusted by slide block height adjusting screws 65. In certain embodiments it may be desirable to incorporate a safety lever 123 into the first slide member 29 which will prevent the first guide member 33 from feeding the first grid electrode 77 onto the jig 11 until the jig 11 is properly positioned. When the jig 11 is in its proper position, the gravity operated safety lever 123 is actuated which will then allow the first guide member 33 to move the first grid electrode '77 as desired.

After the grid electrodes 77, 79 are positioned around the cathode 69 as described above, an anode 81, similar to that shown in FIGURE 5, may be placed around the first grid electrode 77 and the second grid electrode 79. The anode 31 includes anode tabs 127 which pass through the anode tab apertures 61 in the first spacer member 53 and in similar apertures in a second spacer member 99. 7

After the anode is in position, the second spacer member 99 is then placed over the electrodes so that the cathode 69, the first grid electrode 77, the second grid electrode 79 and the anode tabs 127 extend through corresponding apertures in the second spacer member 99. The anode tabs 127 may then be bent or twisted in order to more firmly position the spacer members. In one particular embodiment the anode tabs 127 engage the sides of a conical or slanted recess after passing through the first and/ or second spacer members, which bends the tabs, this locking the spacer members in position. In one particular embodiment of our invention, the anode 81 and the second spacer member 99 are positioned when the jig 11 is in the upright position but, if desired, this may be done by suitable guiding means while the jig 11 is in a horizontal position. One particular embodiment of suitable assembly apparatus is schematically shown in FIGURE 6 which includes a jig 11 having swivel jig mounting means 13, a swivel base member and a swivel bearing member 17. The jig is mounted upon'a fixed base member 109 upon which are mounted first guiding means 101, second guiding means 103, third guiding means 105 and fourth guiding means 107. In this particular embodiment, the guiding means remain in a stationary position on the fixed base member 109 and the jig 11 is rotated to each guiding means in turn. For example, after a suitable first spacer member and a cathode are mounted upon the jig 11, the first guiding means 101 may be used to attach a first grid electrode. Then the jig 11 is moved to a second horizontal position in alignment with the second guiding means 103 and a second grid electrode is positioned. Then a jig 11 is positioned in a third horizontal position and is suitably aligned with the third guiding means 105. An other electrode, such as a third grid electrode, may then be attached. Next, the jig 11 may be positioned in a fourth horizontal position and properly aligned with a fourth guiding means 107 from which an anode is mounted properly. Then as desired, the jig 11 may be positioned in an upright position and the second insulating spacer member may be properly mounted. Of course, it is possible, and in some instances may be desirable, to mount the spacer members and/or the cathode from horizontal guiding means or it may be desirable to mount the anode and the spacer means on the jig when the jig is in an upright position. Also, of course, it may be desirable to have either more or less guiding means than are shown in FIGURE 6 and they may be mounted at different intervals and angles than at the 90 positions as shown in FIGURE 6.

Another embodiment which may have certain advantages is shown in FIGURE 7 which is a top schematic view of a turntable arrangement suitable for use with the subject invention. In FIGURE 7 there is shown a jig 11 with the swivel mounting means 13 which is mounted upon a fixed base member 111. The jig 11 is allowed to be positioned only in one vertical position and in one horizontal position and is not able to be rotatably moved as in FIGURE 6. A turntable 113 surrounds the fixed base member 111 and has a plurality of suitable guiding means, such as a first guiding means 115, a second guiding means 117, a third guiding means 119 and a fourth guiding means 121 mounted thereon. In this particular embodiment, the various parts and electrodes are fed on the jig by the various guiding means in a manner similar to that disclosed previously, but the guiding means themselves are turned by the turntable while the jig remains in its horizontal position. FIGURE 7 has the advantage that the operator can load and insert the parts with the right hand, for example, while the left hand may rotate the turntable. The operator is able to check the operations better due to the proper fixed location and lighting of the work station which is always in front of the operator. Of course, as many guiding means or stations as needed can be mounted on the turntable. It is also possible to assemble the leads and the so-called stem to the electrodes on this turntable by means of suitable welding machines which can be turned to the proper work position and removed after welding.

Other assembly variations may be used in which the guiding means are fixed with the jig being moved in alignment with each guiding means as desired. For example, the jig can be adapted to move along a straight guide member which is provided with a stop for each slide position. The slide members are mounted in a parallel side-by-side arrangement at substantially a right angle to the guide member in alignment with the stops on the guide member.

In general, our invention has the advantage that, in certain embodiments, it may be a bench-type device which is flexible and adaptable to various structures and is very simple to maintain. The use of labor is very eificient and equal timing of individual operations is not necessary as is the case in the so-called belt operations. It has also been found that parts are not damaged :in assembly to the extent of prior art methods and also that grids may be inserted without distortion of the laterals as has been the problem in the past. The assembly of the second insulating spacer member is also facilitated due to the fact that the electrodes are locked into the first insulating spacer member in properly spaced position. Our invention also has the advantages that very limited amount of skill is required of the operator as compared to present day methods.

While the present invention has been shown in a few forms only, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. 1 t

We claim as our invention:

1. Apparatus for assembling an electrode cage for an electron discharge device comprising, in combination, a jig member to which said electrode cage is assembled, a plurality of horizontally movable electrode guiding means, each of said electrode guiding means operable to receive an electrode by top loading and also operable to move linearly to insert said electrode into said jig member and within said electrode cage.

2. Apparatus for assembling an electrode structure for an electron discharge device comprising a jig member, said jig member having an elongated cathode support member on one end of said jig, said jig having a recess portion surrounding said elongated cathode support member, means mounting said jig whereby said jig may be positioned in a vertical position and in a plurality of horizontal positions, a first horizontally movable electrode guiding means operable to receive a first grid electrode by top loading and retain said first grid electrode in a horizontal position, a first jig positioning means adjacent said first horizontal electrode guiding means, said first jig positioning means being operable to position said jig in a first horizontal position in alignment with said first horizontal electrode guiding means, means for urging said first electrode guiding means with said electrode therein whereby said first grid electrode is seated in said jig around said elongated cathode support member, a second horizontally movable electrode guiding means operable to receive a second grid electrode by top loading and retain said second grid electrode in a horizontal position, a second jig positioning means adjacent said second horizontal electrode guiding means, said second jig positioning means being operable to position said jig in a second horizontal position in alignment with said second horizontal electrode guiding means and means for moving said second electrode guiding means with said electrode therein whereby said second grid electrode is seated in said jig around said first grid electrode.

3. Apparatus for assembling an electrode structure for an electron discharge device, said apparatus comprising a jig member, said jig having an elongtaed cathode support member thereon, said jig having a recess portion surrounding said elongated cathode support member, said jig being operable to be positioned in a horizontal position, a base member having a first horizontally movable electrode guiding means and a second horizontally movable electrode gniding means, said first horizontal electrode guiding means being operable to receive a first electrode from the top, means for aligning said first horizontal electrode guiding means with said jig, means for moving said first horizontal electrode guiding means with said first electrode to guide said first electrode into position within said electrode structure, said second horizontal electrode guiding means being operable to receive a secondelectrode from the top, means for aligning said second horizontal electrode guiding means with said jig, and means for moving said second horizontal guiding means with said second electrode to guide said second electrode into position within said electrode structure.

4. Apparatus for loading an electrode into an electronic tube assembly to build up said tube assembly comprising a jig member adapted to receive said electrode, a loading mechanism adjacent to said jig member in a part transfer 8 position with relation to said jig member, said loading mechanism including a horizontally movable guiding cradle into which said electrode is horizontally positioned and means adapted to forcibly 'urge said cradle with said electrode therein to seat said electrode in said jig.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,920,630 Conn Aug. 1, 1933 2,853,769 \Stahl Sept. 30, 1958 2,884,684 Wolke et a1 May 5, 1959 3,013,326 Flodberg Dec. 19, 1961 

1. APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING AN ELECTRODE CAGE FOR AN ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A JIG MEMBER TO WHICH SAID ELECTRODE CAGE IS ASSEMBLED, A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE ELECTRODE GUIDING MEANS, EACH OF SAID ELECTRODE GUIDING MEANS OPERABLE TO RECEIVE AN ELECTRODE BY TOP LOADING AND ALSO OPERABLE TO MOVE LINEARLY TO INSERT SAID ELECTRODE INTO SAID JIG MEMBER AND WITHIN SAID ELECTRODE CAGE. 